Thousands of patients are having their operations cancelled on the day of their scheduled surgery, a new report has found.

And tens of thousands are being forced to wait for longer than 18 weeks for routine operations, the authors said.

Equipment shortages, a lack of beds and scheduling errors were the main excuses given to patients for cancelling their elective surgeries on the day, the authors said.

RAIL FARES INCREASING AT TWICE THE SPEED OF WAGES, SAYS REPORT

Rail fares have increased at double the speed of wages since 2010, according to analysis.

Research by the TUC and the Action for Rail union campaign showed that fares have risen by 25% in the last six years, while average weekly earnings have grown by 12%.

The findings come as the Government is set to announce another round of regulated rail fare increases for the coming year.

CORBYN TO SET OUT PLANS TO RENATIONALISE RAILWAYS

Jeremy Corbyn has pledged to "rebuild and transform" the UK's transport network as he sets out plans to bring the nation's railways back into public ownership.

The Labour leader believes a move to public ownership of the railways is needed in order to address the "transport nightmare" currently faced by commuters.

Mr Corbyn, who is locked in a fierce battle for the party leadership with Owen Smith, insists the move could save passengers up to 10% off their fares.

DONALD TRUMP CALLS FOR 'EXTREME VETTING' OF IMMIGRANTS

Donald Trump called for "extreme" ideological vetting of immigrants seeking admission to the US, vowing to block those who sympathise with extremist groups or do not embrace American values.

"Those who do not believe in our Constitution, or who support bigotry and hatred, will not be admitted for immigration into our country," he said in a foreign policy address in Youngstown, Ohio.

"Only those who we expect to flourish in our country - and to embrace a tolerant American society - should be issued visas."

TASER DEATH FOOTBALLER DALIAN ATKINSON 'THREATENED TO KILL HIS FATHER'

Former Aston Villa footballer Dalian Atkinson threatened to kill his elderly father in a "manic state" before he was Tasered by police, his brother said.

The 48-year-old died 90 minutes after he was hit by the stun gun in the street where he grew up in the Trench area of Telford, Shropshire, in the early hours of Monday morning.

According to relatives Mr Atkinson was suffering from a number of health issues and had a weak heart when he was hit by the weapon at around 1.30am.

OBAMA ADMINISTRATION SENDS 15 GUANTANAMO DETAINEES TO THE UAE

Fifteen prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay detention centre were sent to the United Arab Emirates in the single largest release of detainees during the Obama administration.

The transfer of 12 Yemeni nationals and three Afghans to the UAE comes amid a renewed push to reduce the number of detainees held at the US prison in Cuba that President Barack Obama aims to close.

The Pentagon says 61 detainees now remain at Guantanamo, which was opened in January 2002 to hold foreign fighters suspected of links to the Taliban or the al-Qaida terrorist organisation.

PASTOR, PE TEACHER AND ENGINEER COMPETE TO BE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF CHAMPION

A pastor, a PE teacher and an aerospace engineer will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of champion Nadiya Hussain on this year's Great British Bake Off.

Twelve amateur bakers will take part in the BBC One show, where they will compete to earn the approval of judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood.

But Berry, 81, said this year's contestants had not immediately become friends.

INDIAN ELEPHANT THAT WASHED UP IN BANGLADESH DIES

An adult Indian elephant that became trapped in a swamp in Bangladesh after being caught up in raging flood waters has died after weeks of struggling for survival.

Tapan Kumar Dey, a former forest conservator who was overseeing the rescue operation, said the elephant died despite the "highest efforts" to save him.

"This is very sad. We tried our best to save it," he said.

JURY RETIRING IN STUN-GUN MURDER TRIAL OVER DEATH OF BUSINESSWOMAN SADIE HARTLEY

A jury will today retire to consider its verdicts in the "love triangle" stun-gun murder trial over the death a wealthy businesswoman.

Sarah Williams, 35, is accused of paralysing Sadie Hartley, 60, with a 500,000 volt stun-gun before attacking her victim with "demonic savagery" with a kitchen knife on January 14. Williams and fellow defendant Kitt Walsh are accused of Ms Hartley's murder.

Lord Justice Turner told the jury in the trial, lasting seven weeks at Preston Crown Court, he will complete his summing up this morning and the jury will then be sent out to consider its verdicts.